(Radio Iowa) – Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is launching a new national organization positioned to compete with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 2020, Republican leaders criticized the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for endorsing some Democratic congressional candidates. In a news release, Branstad said America’s business owners and entrepreneurs have not been well-represented in Washington.

The new group is named “The American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce” and Branstad will be its chairman. The new group’s C-E-O will be Gentry Collins. Collins is an Ames native who ran George W. Bush’s Iowa campaign and has served as political director of the Republican National Committee and the Republican Governors Association.

(Panora, Iowa) – A man from Adair was injured during a single-vehicle accident late Sunday night, east of Panora. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports 18-year-old Colten Cody Morrill was traveling on Highway 44 near Viola Avenue, at around 10-p.m., when he fell asleep at the wheel of a 2006 Chevy Cobalt. The car ended-up in the north ditch. A female passenger in the car was uninjured.

Colten Morrill suffered what were described as suspected minor/non-incapacitating injuries (to his face and/or neck), and was transported by Panora EMS to the Guthrie County Hospital. He was cited for Failure to Maintain Control. The car sustained $3,000 damage to the right front side.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – The open burning ban in Pottawattamie County will be lifted today (May 2nd), effective at 9:00 a.m. Ongoing assessment of vegetative fuel, soil, and environmental conditions now indicate a decreased potential for extreme fire behavior and rapid spread. Doug Reed, director of Emergency Management, says “Recent and anticipated precipitation, spring greening of vegetation, and progress in agricultural planting season work have all contributed to reducing extreme fire risk.”

Open burning is now allowable throughout the county EXCEPT in any municipal city limits where there is a standing ordinance prohibiting open burning on a regular basis. Before burning within any city limits, check with your local fire department or city clerk to determine whether your community has such an ordinance.

Residents are to continue using extreme caution whenever burning. The county is still experiencing abnormally dry conditions and seasonal outlooks indicate that will remain the case or even deteriorate later into the summer months.

Residents or farm operators can visit the emergency management agency’s website at https://pcema-ia.org to get updated information regarding fire risk and drought conditions as we move forward. The agency will be updating the current burn ban page to now provide fire risk information, drought condition information, resources for prescribed/controlled burning operations, and other related resources.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston, Saturday, arrested a man on assault and interference charges, as well as on eight total warrants. Authorities say 24-year-old Kane Allen Michael Farlow, of Creston, was arrested at around 3-a.m., at his residence on E. Fremont Street. Farlow was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault-Strangulation and Interference with Official Acts. Farlow was also arrested on a Department of Corrections Warrant for a Violation of Parole.

Farlow also had 7 Union County Warrants:

• 2 counts each: DUS-Driving while License Denied, Suspended, Cancelled or Revoked a Simple Misdemeanor; Eluding-Speed 25 mph over limit-Second or Subsequent and Reckless Driving.
• and 1 count of Leaving the Scene of Property Damage Accident

Farlow was taken to the Union County Jail where he was being held without bond. Later in the day, Saturday, 38-year-old Frank Sylvester Mills Sr, of Lenox, was arrested at the Creston Union County Law Enforcement Center. He was charged on a Union County Warrant, with Assault – a Simple Misdemeanor. Frank Mills, Sr. was being held without bond in the Union County Jail while serving balance of jail sentence.

And, at around 2:30-a.m. Sunday, 26-year-old Tyler Jacob Knutson, of South Dakota, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, on a charge of OWI/1st Offense. Knutson was later released on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Police in Red Oak report a man was arrested this (Monday) morning, following a traffic stop. 27-year-old Austin Wayne Hale, of Red Oak, was arrested a little before 6-a.m. in the 400 block of E. Maple Street, in Red Oak, for Driving While Barred (an aggravated misdemeanor). Hale was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa –— This Friday (May 6th), Governor Kim Reynolds, Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens and the state of Iowa will honor two Iowa State Patrol Troopers who made the ultimate sacrifice – Trooper Ted Benda and Sergeant Jim K. Smith.  Each of the officers dedicated their lives to serving Iowans to protect and keep our communities safe. You are welcome to attend the event or view it through the Iowa State Patrol’s Facebook Live page. (additional details can be found below)

The ceremony will honor Trooper Benda and Sgt. Smith, as well as the many other Iowa officers who have given their lives in the line of duty over the last 153 years.

On the evening of October 14th, 2021, Trooper Ted Benda was in route to assist a local law enforcement agency with the apprehension of a wanted subject in Clayton County. Trooper Benda was traveling down Highway 51 in rural Allamakee County. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Trooper Benda encountered a deer on the roadway. Evasive action was taken where he lost control of his vehicle, rolling it several times. Trooper Benda was airlifted to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he died from his injuries six days later. Trooper Benda served the Department of Public Safety for 15 years. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Trooper Benda

On April 9, 2021, Sergeant Jim Smith was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a subject who had assaulted and disarmed another law enforcement officer during a traffic stop near Grundy Center. The subject initially fled as officers attempted to stop him, but the subject stopped and confronted law enforcement and antagonized them to shoot him. The man then assaulted one of the officers and disarmed him after placing the officer in a chokehold. The subject was able to get back into his car and fled to his home.

Responding officers established a perimeter around the home and established an arrest team. When the arrest team entered the home, the man opened fire with a shotgun, striking Sergeant Smith. Other members of the team were able to remove Sergeant Smith from the home. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The subject shot at an Iowa State Patrol tactical team at about 11:50 p.m. The man was wounded by return fire, taken into custody, and charged with murder.

Sgt. Smith

Sergeant Smith had served with the Iowa State Patrol for 27 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.

IOWA PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL CEREMONY

Friday, May 6, 2022
10:00 AM

Iowa Peace Officer Memorial
Grounds East of Oran Pape State Office Building
215 East 7th Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
(Rain Location: State Capitol rotunda)

FACEBOOK LIVE: Iowa State Patrol

The Iowa State Patrol is investigating two accidents, one of which resulted in a fatality. Authorities say at around 11:44-a.m. Sunday, a 2008 Chevy pickup was traveling south on Highway 218 at a high rate of speed in southeast Iowa’s Washington County, when, according to witnesses, the vehicle went out of control. It entered the west ditch, vaulted a small creek and made contact with a tree, before coming to rest beside the tree. The driver, 25-year-old Brenden Poole, of Ossian, died at the scene. He was wearing a seat belt. A minor passenger in the vehicle was injured.

And, at around 8:45-p.m. Friday, a 2007 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 52-year-old William Cleveland, of Nashua, was traveling south in a construction zone on Highway 218 north of Nashua (in Floyd County). When the cycle went onto the west shoulder, and crossed back over the road, Cleveland was thrown from the machine. He was transported by ambulance to the Floyd County Medical Center.

(Radio Iowa) – A large group of veterans, mostly from north-central and northwest Iowa, will fly to Washington, D-C this coming weekend. The Brushy Creek Chapter of Honor Flights will depart Fort Dodge early Saturday for the day-long journey. Charlie Walker, one of the tour’s organizers, says it’ll be a full charter. “We got about 150 total people,” Walker says. “I’m guessing about 130 veterans and the rest of them are support staff.”

The support staff members for this flight include a physician, three nurses, and a firefighter/paramedic. Among the veterans, there are at least six Iowans who served in the Korean War. “It’s mostly Vietnam veterans but we do have a 101-year-old World War Two lady veteran, Navy veteran going,” Walker says. “Edna Marusca out of Lake City, and her granddaughter is going to go and take care of her in the wheelchair.”

The group will fly to Dulles International Airport and board buses to visit various sites monuments and historic sites in Washington. The plane will return to Fort Dodge Saturday night. The flights have been held from Fort Dodge for more than 10 years. Another one is set for August 27th.

(Radio Iowa) – Today (Monday) marks the start of National Small Business Week as merchants and entrepreneurs all across Iowa are being credited for their resilience and staying power during the pandemic. Jayne Armstrong, director of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Iowa District Office, says she and other S-B-A staffers will be visiting a long list of Iowa businesses. “We always like to keep it personal,” Armstrong says. “We like to get out and recognize the businesses and organizations that win awards by celebrating in front of their employees, in front of their stakeholders, and other community leaders that played a role in their success.”

In the interest of health and safety, this week’s in-person gatherings in Washington D-C are being postponed for one more year, but they’re only as far away as your computer. “National Small Business Week is virtual this year, and next year we’ll be back to in-person with a lot of the classes online, too,” Armstrong says. “There’s always a lot of great speakers and different things like that in different workshops.” While some Iowa businesses were forced to close during the pandemic, others found ways to adapt, stay afloat and succeed, which she says is an accomplishment worth celebrating. “They’re survivors, they’re resilient,” Armstrong says. “These businesses, especially now that are being recognized, really deserve some extra praise if you will, because of coming out of one of the hardest economic cycles we’ve ever seen in this country.”

The S-B-A’s virtual summit is free and offers access to critical federal resources, new business strategies, and an opportunity to meet other business owners and chat with industry experts.

https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Police in Red Oak, Sunday night, arrested a man for OWI/1st offense. Authorities say 38-year-old Keegun Michael Hoyt, of Red Oak, was taken into custody at around 8:15-p.m. in the 1800 block of Crestline Drive. Hoyt was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 bond.